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Obama praises Bogut, Warriors

There was praise, plenty of jokes and a couple of red faces as Andrew Bogut and his NBA champion Golden State Warriors dropped by the White House to meet US President Barack Obama.

Visiting the president is a tradition for the reigning champs of America's top sporting leagues.

Two other Australian basketball players, Patty Mills and Aron Baynes, visited last year after the San Antonio Spurs' 2014 championship.

"There were (Harrison) Barnes dunks, Bogut blocks and Draymond Green showing us heart over height every single night," the basketball-loving Obama, running through the Warriors' championship victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, said.

Obama poked fun at Warriors' star Stephen Curry, describing and then replicating how the guard was "clowning" during the previous night's thrashing of the Washington Wizards.

The president also noted how he beat Curry at golf last summer, but star guard blamed the presence of secret service agents on the course for intimidating him.

Warriors' coach Steve Kerr, who visited US President Bill Clinton after championship wins as a player with the Chicago Bulls and Spurs, noted how Obama's presidency would end early next year so he would become "a free agent".

"So, we don't know if you have anything lined up yet," Kerr, presenting Obama with a Warriors singlet with the number 44, signifying Obama's position as the 44th president of the US, said.

"I'm ready to go," Obama, quickly taking up the offer to be a Warrior, joked.

"We want you, as soon as your duties are done in the White House, to be the leader of Dub Nation," Kerr said.